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Customflex™ Artificial Iris Patient Information
Customflex™ Artificial Iris Patient Information
Customflex™ Artificial Iris Patient Information
CAUTION: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a
physician.
CAUTION: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to practitioners who have been trained and
have experience in the surgical management and treatment of aniridia.
This brochure has been provided to assist you in your understanding of the CustomFlex™
Artificial Iris procedure. Read the brochure in full and discuss the benefits and risks with your
eye care provider. Prior to any type of surgery, it is important to make sure all your questions
are addressed.
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Table of Contents
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List of Figures:
2 Glossary
Antibiotic Eye Drops Medication used to prevent or treat infections of the eye.
Best Corrected Visual The best vision that can be obtained with glasses.
Acuity
Cataract Clouding of the lens inside the eye that may cause loss of
vision.
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Cornea The clear front surface of the eye, which bends rays of
light to focus an image of objects on the retina.
Epithelial Ingrowth A condition in which cells from the surface of the cornea
(the corneal epithelium) start growing underneath the
corneal flap that's produced in the LASIK procedure.
Iris reconstruction Repair of the shape and appearance of the iris using
sutures.
Intraocular lens An artificial lens surgically implanted into the eye with
cataract or other surgeries.
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Iris The colored part of the eye, between the cornea and the
lens, that controls the amount of light reaching the retina
by changing the size of the pupil.
Lens A clear structure behind the iris that helps focus rays of
light, or an image, on the retina.
Optic nerve Connects the eye to the brain, carrying light impulses
formed by the retina.
Punctal plug A small medical device that is inserted into the tear duct of
an eye to block the duct.
Pupil The opening in the center of the iris. The iris changes the
size of the pupil and controls how much light enters the
eye.
Retina The membrane in the eye that receives the images you see
and sends them to your brain.
Retinal detachment Retina separates from its connection at the back of the eye.
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Stargardt’s retinopathy Inherited disease that causes cells in the main focusing
area of the retina to deteriorate.
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3 Introduction
This booklet has important information to help you decide whether to have CustomFlex™
Artificial Iris surgery to repair your iris defect and improve the quality and quantity of your daily
living.
Please read this brochure completely and discuss the risks and benefits with your eye care
professional. Your doctor can help you decide if the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris is suitable for
you. Discuss the content of this booklet and any questions you may have with your doctor.
Check with your doctor if any of the possible contraindications, precautions and warnings may
apply to you. Make sure your doctor answers all your questions to your satisfaction before you
agree to have the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment.
All terms printed in bold can be found in the glossary at the beginning of this booklet. The
glossary defines each of these terms for you.
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The main parts of the eye are the cornea, iris, lens and retina, shown below in Figure 1.
The main parts of the eye work together like a camera. Light enters the eye through the cornea
(clear front covering of the eye) and the pupil (opening of the eye in the center of the iris) and
then passes through the lens. The cornea and lens work together to bend rays of light and focus
an image on the retina, the back surface of the eye, in the same way that a camera lens focuses
light to form a clear image onto film. For our brain to be able to create an image of our
surroundings, special sensory cells within the retina convert light into electrical signals called
nerve impulses. These nerve impulses then travel to the brain along the optic nerve.
The iris is the colored part of your eye and contains a ring of muscles within it that can expand
and contract. The iris controls the size of the pupil and the amount of light that enters the eye by
changing the size of the pupil in response to light. If you are in bright light, the iris expands
(gets bigger) to make the pupil smaller and allows less light to enter. When in darkness, the iris
contracts to make the pupil bigger to allow as much light as possible to enter the eye so you can
see.
The space between the cornea and the lens is filled with a liquid called aqueous humor. This
space is known as the anterior chamber or front part of the eye. The space between the lens and
the retina is filled with a gel called the vitreous.
1
How does the eye work. Informed Health Online [Internet] - Institute for Quality and Efficiency in
Health Care (IQWiG) Version: January 7, 2015 PMHID: PMH0072432
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072432/
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The retina is a membrane that lines the back part of the eye and contains cells that are sensitive
to light. These special sensory cells are of two types: rods allow black and white vision at
twilight and at night; cones allow us to see color. The cones are most densely located at the
center of the retina, called the macula. Thus, the macula helps us see in bright light and is the
central area of sharpest vision.
5 What is Aniridia?
Aniridia is an eye disorder characterized by a complete or partial absence of the iris. Aniridia
can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired as the result of an accident or some other type of
trauma or injury to the eye. Full or partial aniridia is also associated with conditions such as
ocular or oculocutaneous albinism and iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome, and iris
coloboma.
Congenital aniridia is a rare genetic disorder that affects 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 newborns in the
United States. The condition primarily arises when an abnormal PAX 6 gene, that controls the
normal development of the eye, is either inherited from one or both parents or spontaneously
becomes abnormal (mutates) during development before birth. Congenital aniridia may also be
associated with other disorders including Wilm’s tumor, Rieger syndrome, and juvenile glaucoma.
The PAX 6 gene produces a protein that moderates limbal stem cells, which control how, when and
where different parts of the eye are produced during development before birth. Congenital aniridics
are born with either a deficiency or absence of this protein and, as a result, different parts of the eye
are incomplete or malformed at birth. While the iris defect is the most striking hallmark of the
disorder, multiple structures in the eye such as the cornea, crystalline lens, retina and optic nerve
may be affected and are often not fully developed. The PAX6 protein also has an active role in the
maintenance and repair of healthy eyes after birth and during adulthood. Unlike normal eyes, those
eyes with a PAX 6 deficiency do not have the ability to heal well after surgery or injury due to the
lack of functional stem cells and may lead to progressive changes in corneal structure and function
that require eventual limbal stem cell or corneal transplant. As a result, aniridia is a complex
syndrome that encompasses many other conditions that are present at birth or emerge throughout
early childhood and later in adult life.
The iris deficiency associated with aniridia results in visual symptoms that are often
debilitating. Patients with aniridia commonly suffer from decreased visual acuity ranging from
functional to legally blind or worse from refractive errors or malformation of the retina or optic
nerve, extreme light sensitivity in daylight and at night (photosensitivity), glare, halos,
amblyopia (lazy eye), ptosis (droopy eyelids), nystagmus, poor depth of field or vision in dim
light, lens displacement from weak internal structures, cataracts, retinal detachment, eye
dryness, corneal degeneration, fibrosis, glaucoma and other visual disturbances. These
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symptoms or conditions are responsible for the progressive loss of vision that occurs in
adolescence and adulthood and can be so severe that the person’s activities of daily living are
significantly impacted.
Sports and recreation related eye injuries are the most common cause of eye injuries in youth, the
majority of which are blunt eye injuries that may require partial or full iris repair. Acquired
aniridia also can result from trauma during eye surgery, iris defects from removal of iris
tumors, or iris defects resulting from epithelial ingrowth after ocular surgery. Eyes with
acquired aniridia suffer visual symptoms that are similar in nature and severity as congenital
aniridics but without the complications associated with the PAX6 genetic deficiency.
6 Treating Aniridia
Treatment of aniridia is aimed at preservation of vision, reduction of symptoms, and
management of co-existing conditions. Implantation of an artificial iris, such as the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris, is one possible treatment for aniridia and is an elective surgical
procedure. Other possible alternative treatments for aniridia include:
Iris Reconstruction: Surgery many be performed using sutures to repair the shape of the
iris to improve vision and the overall look of the eye without implanting an artificial iris
device.
Colored Contact Lenses: Colored contact lenses are a medical device which requires a
valid prescription to purchase them. Most colored contact lenses are designed to mimic
the natural look of the iris. Since this area is made up of colorful shapes and lines, some
colored contacts feature a series of tiny colored dots and radially arranged colored lines
and shapes to help the lenses look more natural on the eye. These lenses are often used
as fashion or costume accessories and carry the same health risks as corrective contact
lenses when used incorrectly. Extra care should be used when wearing contact lenses if
corneal abnormalities also exist.
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The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device is a foldable iris prosthesis that is custom-made for
each individual patient, as shown below in Figure 2. The device is manufactured using medical-
grade colorized silicone of the type that is used in other eye devices, such as intraocular lenses
(IOLs). During manufacturing, the silicone is applied by hand as either a single color or as an
individually selected color pattern to match the coloring of the natural iris. This is done by
matching the color of a photograph printout of the patient’s existing iris (or a selected template
photo), producing nearly an exact match.
The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris for the treatment of full aniridia is shown below in Figure 3.
When implanted, the artificial iris mimics the natural iris and produces an improvement in the
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visual symptoms associated with aniridia that most affect the patient’s quality of life. These
symptoms include a reduction in severity of light sensitivity day and night, difficulty night
driving, reading difficulty, glare and halos day and night, and starbursts.
4 Days Post-op
Pre-op
The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris is surgically implanted for the treatment of aniridia in children
and adults who are born with aniridia or have iris defects that occur as the result of injuries or
other conditions in which the iris becomes damaged or non-functional. You may be a good
candidate for CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment if:
• You are an adult or a child at least 3 years of age or older -- there is no upper age limit for
treatment
• You have a diagnosis of congenital or acquired full or partial iris defect in the eye to be
treated, such as:
An iris defect resulting from injury or trauma to the eye
An iris that does not react to light and the pupil remains large (traumatic
mydriasis)
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The information presented in the following sections of this booklet will help you determine if
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery is advisable for you. It reviews the probable risks and
benefits of the procedures, reports the outcomes of the clinical study that was completed to
evaluate the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris, and describes what to expect if you decide to undergo
surgery and have the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris implanted.
Your doctor will perform a complete eye exam to help determine whether you may be a good
candidate for the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris. Your doctor will assess your general health and
consider any medications you are taking. Make sure you tell your eye care professional about all
medical and eye conditions that you have, and all medications you are taking, including over-the-
counter items like vitamins and supplements.
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If you decide to move forward with the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment, your eye care
provider will photograph your eyes for ordering the artificial iris implant.
The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris is custom-made for each individual patient. To order a color-
matched device, you will have photos taken of your eyes. You and your doctor should select the
hardcopy photo printout that is the best match to your existing iris as the target color. This will
be used as the template to custom-manufacture the artificial iris. Aniridia patients who have no
natural iris available to use as a template will submit the photo of another person’s eye (e.g.,
family, friends) to use as the template photo. Photos from magazines or other digital sources are
not acceptable. The photo that is to be used for production must be signed and dated by you and
your doctor to verify that you both agree on the photo you selected.
Once the photos are selected, your doctor will order the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris from the
manufacturer. It takes 8 to 12 weeks for the device to be custom-made. The manufacturer will
let your doctor know when the device is expected to be delivered so that you can schedule the
date for your surgery.
You will be positioned to make you comfortable for the surgery, and the operated eye will be
prepped and draped in the surgeon’s usual sterile fashion for ophthalmic surgery. Eye drops to
help control infection, swelling, and numbing will be put into your eye. Your doctor will select
the surgical technique based on the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device ordered and your eye’s
anatomy and pathology. A small incision is made, and the artificial iris is folded and inserted
through the incision. The iris device is unfolded, and the edges are smoothed out using surgical
instruments. If sutures are required, they are tied with only enough tension to prevent
movement. The incision is sealed and secured according to your doctor’s preference.
If your eye is undergoing a cataract procedure to place an IOL, the IOL surgery may be
performed at the same time as the artificial iris surgery. Depending on your eye’s conditions,
other surgical procedures may need to be performed as part of the same surgery experience. You
should discuss the surgery procedure in detail with your doctor to assure you understand all the
procedures that will occur and the risks of the surgical procedures and any special instructions
you need to follow before, during, or after the surgery.
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Right after surgery you should remain in the recovery area for a short time. You should make
plans to have someone else drive you home. You will be given written instructions about what
you can do and how often to use eye drops. You can then go home, but someone will need to
drive you because your vision will be blurry. You can expect your eye to be uncomfortable for a
few days after the surgery. You will be given a prescription for pain medication that you can
take if you need it.
You should avoid rubbing your eyes, wearing eye make-up, playing contact sports, exercise,
swimming, gardening, smoking, and being in dusty environments for at least the first week after
surgery. Please check with your eye care provider for when you can resume these and other
activities your doctor may have asked you to stop after surgery.
If you feel any pain, see any discharge or redness in the eye with the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris
device, or have a sudden decrease in your vision or flashing lights or floating spots, then call
your eye care provider immediately.
You will typically see your eye care provider the day after the procedure and at frequent visits
for the first 12 months. Your doctor will determine the exact schedule based on your condition
and ability to return for follow-up visits. After that, you should be seen for an annual eye exam
each year, at minimum, or sooner if you experience any problems in the implanted eye.
Most health insurance policies do not cover the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris procedure.
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Risks
You should consider the risks as well as the benefits of having your aniridia treated with the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris. There are risks and possible complications of artificial iris
implantation. Complications could be minor or temporary, or could permanently affect your
vision. The frequency of complications is low relative to the cause of aniridia. Complications
may include those that occur as a result of the artificial iris or IOL that is implanted, the surgical
procedure to implant these devices, or from other eye conditions that are unrelated to the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris, IOL or surgical procedure.
Contact your eye doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms after surgery:
itching, pain, flashing lights/”floaters”, redness, severe headache, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to
light or watery eyes.
Vision and Eye Symptoms: CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery improves symptoms related to
photosensitivity and vision, including glare, halos, blurred vision, double vision, fluctuation of
vision, dryness, foreign body sensation and pain. However, these symptoms may worsen in
some patients and may not resolve, even with treatment.
Eye Infection or Inflammation: As with any surgery in the eye, there is a risk of infection
and/or inflammation to the front part of the eye or the back part of the eye.
Lens Removal: Because the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris is a permanent implant, it may have to
be removed if surgery to the lens or back of the eye is required at a later time. For this reason, if
your eye has its natural lens in place, the natural lens must be removed before or at the same time
as the artificial iris surgery and an IOL will be implanted.
Decreased Uncorrected or Best Corrected Distance Vision: As with any eye surgery, there is
a risk that you may lose some distance vision in the implanted eye. This could result from
complications of the eye surgery, or if your doctor selects the wrong correction of IOL to implant
in your eye.
Increased Eye Pressure: There is a probable risk for eye pressure to increase as a result of the
surgery, the artificial iris or IOL devices, or from using steroid eye drops (steroids) needed to
suppress inflammation from the implantation of the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris and any
concurrently placed IOL. Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to surgery. If you have
glaucoma before the surgery, your glaucoma may be at increased risk for episodes of worsening
glaucoma after the surgery. If your pressure increases, your doctor will treat it by prescribing
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oral medications or eye drops to decrease the eye pressure. In some cases your doctor may need
to perform a procedure to relieve the pressure. This will usually control the eye pressure; but in
some cases, further treatment may be needed. In many cases, treatment to lower eye pressure is
no longer needed once the episode of pressure increase returns to normal. In other cases, long-
term treatment for high eye pressure may be needed, even after the steroids are stopped.
Changes to Device Position: After CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris implantation, the device may
not be perfectly centered or may move slightly and become off-center or dislocated. This may or
may not require additional surgery to reposition the device.
Need for Device Removal or Additional Surgery: After CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris
implantation, more surgery may be needed to reposition the device, exchange the artificial iris
for a new one, or permanently remove the device in order to treat a complication. Other types of
surgery may also be needed to treat complications. Each additional surgery has its own risks,
and may or may not completely resolve the problem.
Discuss with your doctor if you have any of the following conditions to determine if
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery is right for you.
• Have an active eye infection or uncontrolled inflammation of the eye (such as acute or
severe chronic uveitis)
• Were born with an eye disorder (other than aniridia) that causes the eye to be abnormal
in size, shape or function (such as microphthalmus or rubella cataract)
• Have an untreated eye disorder that is potentially vision-threatening (such as an untreated
retinal detachment or untreated chronic glaucoma)
• Have a disease process in which new blood vessels grow abnormally on the iris (rubeosis
of the iris)
• Have a complication of diabetes in which new blood vessels grow on the surface of the
retina or elsewhere (proliferative diabetic retinopathy)
• Have an inherited disease that causes cells in the main focusing area of the retina to
deteriorate (Stargardt’s retinopathy)
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• Are pregnant because the medications that are given to you during the surgery and after
the surgery may not be safe for your unborn child
• Children who are less than 3 years of age because their eyes are still in a stage of major
growth development that would be disrupted by ocular surgery
• The intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eye is above 21 mm Hg and does not respond to
pressure-lowering medication, unless the IOP is known to be above 21 mm Hg and is
stable and well-controlled with glaucoma treatment.
• Any other current condition that would interfere with the planned surgical procedure to
implant the artificial iris
• You are nursing or lactating and any of the medications you will need to take before or
after the surgery can pass into your breast milk and are unsafe for your child
• You have gastric ulcers or diabetes mellitus and will need to take high doses of orally
administered steroids after the surgery
• You have a disease of the cornea that causes it to swell and be cloudy (severe endothelial
corneal dystrophy). Potential surgical trauma associated with implantation of this device
may lead to damage of your cornea such that the potential benefits of implantation do not
outweigh the risks
• You have no useful vision or vision potential in your eye that will NOT be treated which
could cause you to be visually impaired if something happened to your “good” eye that is
undergoing the artificial iris surgery unless your aniridia symptoms are so debilitating
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that the probable benefits of receiving the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris clearly outweigh
the risks
• Presence of a condition or finding in your opposite eye that is not undergoing the
artificial iris surgery that would make it unsafe to implant a CustomFlex ™ Artificial Iris
in the eye to be treated
• You are allergic to any of the planned postoperative antibiotic or anti-inflammatory
medications, unless a suitable alternative medication can be prescribed
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12.4 Precautions
If you have any of the conditions below, talk to your doctor before you decide to have the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery, as the risks of having the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris are
higher in patients who have any of the following conditions.
• If your eye has its natural lens in place, the natural lens must be removed and an IOL will
be implanted along with the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris procedure. The IOL procedure
must be performed even if no cataract is apparent.
• The vision potential in your opposite eye that is not undergoing the artificial iris surgery
cannot be evaluated (e.g., poor vision in the eye due to cataract)
• The IOP in your eye is above 21 mm Hg and is known to be stable and well controlled
with glaucoma treatment (e.g., medication, tubes or shunts)
• Presence of any other medical condition that might be expected to make you an
unsuitable candidate for CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment of aniridia
• Surgical difficulty of the planned surgery, which might increase the potential for
complications
• Implantation in the fellow eye before stabilization of the first implanted eye
(typically 1 month or more)
• Safety and effectiveness of intraocular lenses has not been established in pediatric patients
in the U.S.
13 Clinical Study
A clinical study was done to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the CustomFlex™ Artificial
Iris for the treatment of congenital and acquired aniridia in children and adults. The study
included 447 eyes that had the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris implanted. At the time the patients
were enrolled in the study, the youngest patient was 6 years old and the oldest patient was 94
years old. Of the 447 eyes treated in the study, 44 eyes were in pediatric patients (less than 22
years of age).
For your information, a summary of the results from the clinical study are provided below.
One of the probable benefits of the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment is that your symptoms
related to light sensitivity and vision may improve. You may also be able to function better and
more easily perform normal activities that require useful vision. At 12 months after the patients
in the clinical trial underwent the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery:
• There was a decrease in the severity of day-time symptoms of light sensitivity, glare and
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halos:
o 14.2% (48/339) of the eyes had symptoms of light sensitivity during the day that
were marked or severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 73.8%
(327/443) of eyes before the surgery
11.2% (38/339) of the eyes had symptoms of glare during the day that were marked or severe after the
artificial iris surgery compared to 64.3% (285/443) of eyes before the surgery
o 2.7% (9/339) of the eyes had symptoms of halos during the day that were
marked or severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 22.3% (99/443)
of eyes before the surgery
• There was a decrease in the severity of night-time symptoms of light sensitivity, glare,
halos and starbursts:
o 6.8% (23/339) of the eyes had symptoms of light sensitivity at night that were
marked or severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 48.3% (214/443)
of eyes before the surgery
o 9.1% (31/339) of the eyes had symptoms of glare at night that were marked or
severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 57.6% (255/443) of eyes
before the surgery
o 7.7% (26/339) of the eyes had symptoms of halos at night that were marked or
severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 38.1% (169/443) of eyes before
the surgery
o 6.5% (22/339) of the eyes had symptoms of starbursts at night that were marked
or severe after the artificial iris surgery compared to 30.9% (137/443) of eyes
before the surgery
• Reading was improved with 26.3% (89/339) of eyes having marked to severe reading
difficulty after CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment compared to 64.8% (287/443)
before the treatment.
• Difficulty driving at night also improved with 14.2% (48/339) of subjects who were
driving reporting marked to severe difficulty driving after CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris
treatment compared to 43.8% (194/443) who had marked to severe difficulty driving
before the treatment.
• There was a three-fold improvement in the patients’ ability to complete normal vision-
related activities of daily living, as measured by a standardized health related quality of
life questionnaire. The mean score on the questionnaire before CustomFlex™ Artificial
Iris surgery was 66.7 compared to 15.4 after the surgery, where a lower score indicates
improvement in health related quality of life and less dysfunction.
• Satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance was high, with 93.8% (318/339) of patients
rating their appearance as improved to very much improved after implantation of the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris.
• Although the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris is not designed to improve vision, 67.2%
(170/253) of the eyes had better uncorrected visual acuity (vision without glasses or
contact lenses) after the artificial iris surgery; and, 27.7% (70/253) of the eyes had
uncorrected vision that was unchanged.
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The doctors in the clinical study evaluated the risks of the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris by
measuring best corrected visual acuity (BCVA; vision with glasses or contact lenses) before
and after the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris treatment. The doctors also performed other safety
measurements, such as measuring IOP, evaluated adverse events, and the position of the artificial
iris after the surgery. After the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery:
• None of the eyes (0%) had a clinically significant loss of more than 2 lines on the eye
chart of BCVA at 12 months postoperatively that was caused by the CustomFlex™
Artificial Iris.
o 5.5% (18/330) of the eyes did lose more than 2 lines of BCVA at 12
months postoperatively, but this loss was related to other conditions.
o 1.7% (6/447) of the eyes lost more than 2 lines of BCVA at 3 months or
later after implantation of the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris that was related to
the surgical procedure to implant the device.
• Increases in IOP > 30 mm Hg were the most common adverse event reported in the
study. Throughout the 12 months after CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery:
o 7.8% (35/447) of the eyes had one or more spikes of IOP > 30 mm Hg as a
result of the surgical procedure.
o 0.2% (1/447) had an episode of an elevated IOP > 30 mm Hg that was caused
by the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris.
o There were no reports (0/447) of increased IOP > 30 mm Hg that was caused by
the IOL that was surgically implanted along with the artificial iris.
o Episodes of IOP > 30 mm Hg related to patients’ other eye conditions occurred
in 9.4% (42/447) of the eyes.
o Steroid drops administered after the artificial iris surgery resulted in episodes of
IOP > 30 mm Hg in 6.0% (27/447) of the eyes.
• The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris implant remained in its intended position in the
majority of eyes throughout the 12 month study; secondary surgeries could be performed
when needed to reposition the device:
o The artificial iris device was observed to be decentered (not perfectly centered)
tilted or dislocated (not in its intended position) in 4.2% (19/447) of the eyes.
o A second surgery to reposition the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris was performed in
2.2% (10/447) of the eyes; and, all surgical repositions were performed
successfully.
o The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris had to be removed and replaced with the
backup device in 0.2% (1/447)of the eyes.
o There were no circumstances in which the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris had to be
permanently removed in any the eyes.
• Inflammation (iritis) occurring at 1 month or later after the surgery:
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o Was related to the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device in 0.7% of the eyes;
o Was related in to the surgical procedure in 3.4% of the eyes, and was chronic
(present at all postoperative visits) in 1.8% (5/447) of the eyes; and ,
o Was related to other eye conditions in 3.4% of the eyes, and chronic in 0.2% of
eyes.
• Adverse events related to the surgical procedure to implant the artificial iris and any
concurrently implanted IOLs that occurred in 2% or more of the eyes were:
o Cystoid macular edema (2.9%; 13/447)
o Corneal edema at 1 month or later (2.5%)
o Iritis at 1 month or later (3.4%; 15/447)
o IOP > 30 mm Hg (7.8%; 35/447)
o Hemorrhage into the vitreous (4.3%; 19/447)
o Hyphema (4.0%; 18/447)
• Adverse events related to the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device that occurred in 2% or
more of the eyes were all related to the implant’s position:
o Device dislocation (2.5%; 11/447)
o Secondary surgery to reposition the device (2.2%; 10/447)
• Adverse events related to the other eye conditions and that were unrelated to the study
devices or study procedures and occurred in 2% or more of the eyes were:
o BCVA loss of more than 2 lines on the eye chart at 3 months or later (2.5%;
11/447)
o Corneal edema at 1 month or later (3.1%; 14/447)
o Cystoid macular edema (3.4%; 15/447)
o Hypotony (3.6%; 16/447)
o IOP > 30 mm Hg (9.4%; 42/447)
o Iritis at 1 month or later (3.4%; 15/447)
o Drug induced IOP > 30 mm Hg (6.0%; 27/447)
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HumanOptics AG
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris Patient Brochure
• The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris procedure is not risk-free. Read this entire booklet,
most importantly the section on Risks, before you elect to have this procedure.
• Implantation of the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device has the potential to cause:
o Increased eye pressure
o The need for another surgery, such as removal or replacement of the device, or
another treatment.
• You should not have the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris implanted if you:
o Have an active eye infection or uncontrolled inflammation of the eye (such as
acute or severe chronic uveitis)
o Were born with an eye disorder (other than aniridia) that causes the eye to be
abnormal in size, shape or function (such as microphthalmus or rubella cataract)
o Have an untreated eye disorder that is potentially vision-threatening (such as an
untreated retinal detachment or untreated chronic glaucoma)
o Have a disease process in which new blood vessels grow abnormally on the iris
(rubeosis of the iris)
o Have a complication of diabetes in which new blood vessels grow on the surface
of the retina or elsewhere (proliferative diabetic retinopathy)
o Have an inherited disease that causes cells in the main focusing area of the retina
to deteriorate (Stargardt’s retinopathy).
• If your eye still has its natural lens, you will need to have the lens removed and have an
IOL placed in the eye (same procedure as a cataract surgery).
• There are non-surgical alternatives to the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device, which
include tinted glasses, iris reconstruction surgery with suturing, colored “iris” contact
lenses, or corneal tattooing.
• Before having the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris procedure, you should:
o Have a complete eye examination.
o Talk with your eye care provider about alternative treatments, probable benefits,
complications, risks, healing time, and any other concerns you have about having
the surgery.
o Be able to complete your follow-up visits and use the eye drops prescribed for
you after the surgery.
The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris device has advantages and disadvantages. You should evaluate
the factors in this brochure as they relate to your vision and your quality of life. We recommend
that you ask your eye care provider to assist you in this evaluation.
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HumanOptics AG
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris Patient Brochure
The CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris has been well studied in the U.S.A. In the clinical study, 94%
(318/339) of patients rated their postoperative appearance as improved after receiving the
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris. If you decide to have the CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris surgery, we
hope that you are satisfied and have great pleasure in your improved quality of life.
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HumanOptics AG
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris Patient Brochure
Treatment Location:
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Address:
Phone:
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HumanOptics AG
CustomFlex™ Artificial Iris Patient Brochure
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